Last of its kind $13 million patch of grass listed near the MCG
A patch of grass moments from the hallowed MCG turf has luxury price hopes of up to $13.2 million.
The listing at 179-183 Hotham Street, East Melbourne, is pitched as one of the last vacant sites in a salubrious suburb that is part of Melbourne's iconic sporting and political precinct.
Even without a house on it, the property is priced to be one of the highest ever sales in East Melbourne. The long-standing postcode record of $13.1 million was obliterated in February this year by a $19 million off-the-plan penthouse sale.
The empty plot behind a picket fence covers 1012 square metres, about 700 metres from the MCG concourse, on the lip of the CBD.
Listing: see more images of the property here
The listing is on the books of agency Fitzroy's, with expressions of interest closing at 1pm on August 30. The advertised price guide is $12 million to $13.2 million.
Across the road from Hotham Street is the Fitzroy Gardens and Treasury Gardens, the state parliamentary quarter, Spring Street and the so-called Paris end of Collins Street, with restaurants, bars and boutiques, are also moments away.
It is the first time in 50 years that the Hotham Street block, between grand Victorian buildings, has been offered for sale and it carries a general residential development zoning.
"Located in coveted East Melbourne on the doorstep to the CBD and surrounded by leafy parks and gardens, world class entertainment and recreation facilities and boasting some of Melbourne's finest period architecture and notable buildings," the listing says.
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It is the company of some of the city's finest examples of early residential design, which are in harmony with modern marvels.
One of those is the neighbouring Clarendon Street complex nicknamed the Tower of Power, as home to high-profile Melburnians and business leaders. Apartments within it achieve lofty prices due to the protected nature of the views across the Fitzroy Gardens to Parliament House, which will never be built out.
There are not enough house sales in East Melbourne to generate an accurate median However, Domain data - from the June 2023 House Price Report - shows the suburb's unit median is $715,000.